Bread slicing machine, including gangs of rotary disk knives



Dec.'2l, 1948. H. J. CRINER 2,456,866

' BREAD SLICING MACHINE, INCLUDING GANGS 0F ROTARY DISK KNIVES Filed Sept. 11, 1944 5 sheei's-sheet 1 Dec; 21, 1948. J, cR 1 2,456,866

BREAD SLI G MACHINE, INCLUDING GANGS 0F vEs ROTARY DI SK KNI Filed Sept. ll, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR.

D 21, 1943- H.-J..CRINER 5 BREAD SLICING MACHINE, INCLUDING GANGS OF ROTARY DISK KNIVES Filed Sept. 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 21, 1948 BREAD SLICING MACHINE, INCLUDING GANGS OFROTARY DISK KNIVES Harry J. Criner, Davenport, Iowa, assignor of onehalf to A. G. Bush, Davenport, Iowa Application September 11, 1944, Serial No. 553,619 '10 Claims. (01. 146-98) My invention relates to improvements in bread slicing machines, and spacing adjusters.

The, objects of my invention are to provide an improved form of rotary blade bread slicing machines in which the blades are arranged in alter nation in upper and lower series spaced apart and by which the two pan corners of a loaf of bread may be presented so as to contact the cutting blades simultaneously or in close succession.

Other objects will appear from the description.-

I accomplish these objects by the means illustrated "in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top or plan view with a part of the blade cover broken away and showing one end plate of the cover in section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a rear end view but with part of the cover broken away and omittingthe conveyor;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail showing part of the spacing mechanism in section on the line 4-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail partly in section showing the relative location of the two series of rotary blades and the spacing and bread supportingmeans on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail showing the heads in section and the interlocking spacing members in full lines;

Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line 'l-'I of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional detail on the line 88 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a detail showing a portion of the blade-shaftin full lines and the rings or washers attaching the blades to the shaft, and a spacing bar in section;

Figure 10 is a detail showing a side elevation of the spacing mechanism applied to band blades;

Figure 11 is a vertical section detail showing an alternative form of spacer in which a. center shaft is used to actuate the threaded members in place of the tongue shown in Figures 6 and 7,

on the line |lll of Figure 12, but with the middle portion of the spacing arms broken away and the blades and blade-shaft omitted;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 11, but showing the spacer shaft and supporting bar in section;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional detail on the line I3|3 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a side view of a single one of the unpinned spacing members;

Figures 15 and 16 are side and end views respectively of the knives, one set slightly forwardly of the other set.

My apparatus comprises a frame I preferably rectangular in form, with feet 2 cast integral therewith. The frame includes side members suitably connected by cross-members or by shafts or bars. Each side member includes a supporting upright 5 carrying a boss 3 which forms a journal for the upper blade-shaft which extends transversely of the machines. A lower blade-shaft 32 is mounted in bosses or journals 4 formed in the side members. Suitable bearings of the plain or ball-bearing or roller type may be provided for the shafts 30 and 32.

Upon the shaft 30 I, mount a plurality of bushings 29 which are freely severally slidable lengthl wise of the shaft 30 but secured against rotation by thekeys or splines 43, and to or upon the bushings, the cutting blades 22 are rigidly secured.

The cutting blades are circular with a radius somewhat longer than the height or width of a 303 loaf of bread to be sliced, and are preferably from ten to fifteen one-thousandths of an inch in thickness while the slots in the spacing bars are slightly wider.

Upon the lower blade-shaft 32 I mount a corresponding series of bushings 29.! slidable lengthwise of the shaft and keyed or splined to the shaft by keys 43. To these bushings the lower slicing blades 23 are united by spot-welding or other suitable means, and so arranged as to turn with the shaft 32.

Between each pair of the adjacent lower blades I mount upon bushings 29.] arms or spacing bars 24.I the rear ends of which are mounted upon and freely slidable of the crossbar H secured in the frame at the rear of the blades 23.

The front ends of the bars 24.! are formed with enlarged heads 33.2 having internal bores 44 formed therein which are internally threaded with threads on the opposite ends running in opposite directions.

Within the heads 33.2 I mount a series of threaded interlocking members 9 having threads formed upon the opposite ends of the periphery thereof running in opposite directions and with an u'nthreaded portion or groove 9.l formed'between the threaded portions of each section. The

2,45'e,seo

external threads upon the interlocking members are arranged to mesh with the internal threads formed in the heads of the spacer bars and each interlocking member is threaded into the two heads on the opposite sides thereof.

Each interlocking member carries upon one end a tongue 45 arranged to interlock with the corresponding groove 45. formed in. the. adiacent. end. of the next succeeding interlocking membeivand: so arranged that when one of the interlocking members is turned, the entire series of inter.

locking members will be turned. If turned in one direction, the threads upon the interlocking members coacting with the threads within the heads 33.2 will cause the spacing arms tosprcadeapart.

but if turned in the other direction will gather:

and with similar heads formed at the front end thereof, but extending upwardly instead of down.-.

wardly as in the lower series. Similar interlock in'g'members 9'with similar tongues 45andfgrooves 46" are provided for the upperv series of" spacing. bars.

Each series oflinterlocl'cing members 9Lis partly supported respectively by terminalibars 4.1 and!!! suitably mounted in the side frame in bosses 8"...

The bar M is slid'able lengthwise in the frame so as to permit it" to move-adi'stance'edual to the. sum of the movement of all of the individual adjusting members and is united" to its ad'iacent.

- interlocking member by threads corresponding;

to the, threads of the interlocking members and also connected thereto bya' corresponding tongue and groove. Thebar'lfl maybe rigidly mounted. in the frame and the interlocking memberadk jacent to it will be rigidly." united; tl'leretov by a.

pinkey or: other suitable means .so that when! the'bar 41* is turned in' one direction;. all of the interlocking members willbeexpand'ed or moved".

away from the fixed: member and When-t'he. bar 87" is turned in the other'direction, the interlocking members will be contracted andmouedinearer to the fixed member.

If desired? both f" the bars at and 4;s'- may.

be slidablymounted orthreaded; in the. frame andthe middle interlocking member of the series may be rigidly fixedin; its position; so that the interlocking members will'expand or contract simultaneously in opposite directions from or toward the fixed central. member.

A handwheel 411lmay, be unitedJto'tl ie oi.1ter.v

4 and the thickness of the slices may be uniformly and simultaneously changed and this may be done either While the blades are in motion idling or when standing still.

The spacing arms are supported in part by the blade-shafts -32, in part by the bars 3| and II, and in part by the two series of interlocking membersfl.

The shafts 30 and 32 each has one end projecting beyond the frame on which are mounted pulleys 35 and 34 which may be driven by a belt 42" which in turn is driven by the drive pulley 3E onthe. motorshaft' 3'! of the electric motor 38 or end of the bar 41 by which the bar 47 may be turned and if desired, coarse threads may be formed upon the bar. 4! whereby when the handwheel. 41.! is turned,the bar-41 willhe carried outwardly or inwardly. a distance. equal; to. the, sum of" the travel of all the interlockingmembers.

but are not essential as the. movementof the interlocking adjusters will cause. the. bar 4.1. to. slide in the frame if not threaded.

As the interlocking. members. move. longitudinally, they carry thev slotted. spacing barson'arms.

with them and the spacing bars. in turnmforcew the. cutting. blades to move al'ongthe blade-shaft orr pondin y. Thus. the. spacing. of thablades.

'to prevent contact therewith. The 'siclesof'the means with the. movable bars 4]., W

other suitable means. The motor 38 may be mountedupon a bracket 40 formed integral with the frame.. The-spacing bars 24 and 24.! are provided with longitudinal slots through which the blades lil and 23 project. These slots 49 and 50 are. just. enough wider than the blades 22 and 23 to allow the blades to turn freely therein but are narrow enough to prevent. any substantial lateral bend'ing' of the buses; p j

To the uprights 5 I secure bars '6 to which' are" fastened the ends of a semicircular cover ZBfwIfIich, extends entirely'over the top of the-blade'sfso as" cover 28' are left open to permittheflentryor; e; bread which may be-carried upon' 'feed conveyors H and taken away by discharge; conveyors" lfif Any desired form of conveyor may be used g I have shown beltor' canvas conveyors .i 'lfand liif running-over plates. l8 and lflunited to'the framja The ,feed conveyor l1 passes over'the' pul l and. I2 mounted upon shafts 2'6 'and" l ,.lt e; shaft l3' being supported 'by'bra'ce rods 21'. i The discharge conveyor ILB runsv over aplatef IQ united} to the .frame and over pulley'sfilll and lLS carried by the shafts II- and Msuitablymountedlinthe frame andinthe extensions thereof; the thaftglt. beingv braced by diagonal rod's'"2.

The. rear endsof the. spacing. bars t l-4.4.. fitted rather. loosely upon the. shafts,,.3l. .Llso as to. slide. freely thereon. but. iffdesiredg addie. tional heads as shown in dotted lines figure-5. corresponding tdthe heads 3t. and 3.3.2 mayrbe formed'npontherear, endofthe spacing Y carry interlocking; members 33.l,..33.l;. sim lar-:to the interlocking members..heretoforefljdescribed and actuated in synchronism with the fi .1 a scribed interlocking. members by similar means connected by sprocketlchains. or, other: suitable..

The upper series of interlockinglmernber may. be. driven in synchnonism with.thelowerseries of. interlocking. members. by gears. s quicicket chains, belts or other suitable meansso.that.lthe, spacing of the-upper. and lower blades relative to each other will always be uniform.

In Figures. 11. to. 14,, I. have; shown .an alternate form of interlocking adjusting membersin which; one-half of such members are formedintc ral with. the heads, 54,0f the. spacing. arms; andlthe other half of the. heads. 55 of. the spacing arrnsl... carry within them revolvably mountedinterlock ing adjusting members 5.6.... g I.: j

' Each. head 54. hasv a large. internal, threaded bore at one end. and an. extended. reduced..ex-' ternallythreadedneck 59 at the other]. endfand. the shaft BI is free to. turn. withintheheads 54..

The. interlocking. adiustingmembers 5b. are keyed or. splined' to the shaft 5.! by. keys .(igfjex. tending into. grooves fil'formed theshaft.

The ihlifirlbfiking. ad'jlistingg melinbisfI55 thusobligedtd revolve witllthe shaft but ,1

adjusting members are freely slidable longitudinally thereon. i I

In order to keep the heads 55 in proper alinement with the interlocking adjusting members 56, peripheral grooves 51 are formed in the adjusting members and pins or stud bolts 60 are secured in the heads 55 at the opposite sides thereof and extend into the grooves 51 of the respective adjusters.

In the operation of this form of adjuster, when the shaft is rotated it carrieswith it the interlocking members 56, but the heads 54 are kept from turning by the bars 5|.| and by the corresponding blade-shaft. Thus, as the shaft 5| is rotated in one direction, the external threads upon the interlocking member 56, coacting with the internal threads in the next adjacent head 54, draws the heads 55 and 54 closer together and when the shaft 5|; is rotated in the opposite direction, it spreads them apart.

Likewise, as the threads on the necks 59 are in mesh with the internal threads on the adjusting members 56, but run in the opposite direction from the external threads upon the necks 58, when the shaft 5| is turned in one direction carrying with it the adjusting members 56, it will draw the succeeding heads 54 and 55 closer together and when rotated in the opposite direction, it will drive them farther apart, and these movements will be simultaneous and uniform with the relative movements of the next succeeding adjusting members 56 so that the members 54 and 55 throughout the entire series Will at all times be uniformly spaced apart.

Figure shows my spacing apparatus applied to band-blades in which case the spacing arms 24-24.| will be formed with heads 33, 33.2 carrying adjusters of the same kind and arranged as heretofore described. In such cases theslots in the spacing arms 24-24.| will extend throughout the length of the spacing arms and may be placed in the position straddling the blades 22.| before the shafts and 3| are inserted in the rear ends of the arms. A similar arrangement may be utilized in connection with short-bladed reciprocating machines where the blades are movably mounted longitudinally of the bars or supports which carry them.

In setting up my machine, with the first. form of adjusters shown, the bars 41 and'48 and the interlocking adjusters may be all placed in juxtaposition to the heads of the spacer arms and the interlocking adjusters held against rotation, with the tongues and grooves in alinement. The spacing arms may then be revolved in' mesh with the threads of the interlocking adjusters and will draw the interlocking adjusters toward each other to the desired distance, thus causing-the tongues 45 to enter the grooves 46.

The bars 41 and 48 may then the frame, the bushings carrying them being split for that purpose if necessary, and the corresponding slicing blades may then be set up in the position which they will occupy in the completed machine. The slotted arms may then be placed in the correct position relative to the blades and be mounted in and then splitting them in two'halves asshown fixed half of the heads respectively and the movable halves then put in place and bolted securely by the set screws 65 and this can be done after the slicing blades and shafts 30-32 and bars 3|--|| have been assembled in the machine.

When the form of adjuster shown in Figure 11 is used, the interlocking members may all be threaded together to the proper distance. The

pins 60 may then be inserted and the shaft 5| slid into place.

In this form it is preferable to have the keys 62 formed integral with the bodies and necks 58 and a suitable groove formed in'the shaft 5| to mesh therewith.

Either of these forms of adjusters may be used with various forms of bread slicing machines and they may be applied to various other types of" machinery as occasion arises therefor.

The shaft 30 is preferably located directlyover the shaft 32 in a plane extending at right angles: to the spacing arms 24 and 24.|, but it is obviousthat the upper shaft may be located either to the rear or in advance of the lower shaft to accommodate the requirements of particular cases should occasion arise.

The drawings submitted herewith are to be regardedas illustrative and I do not limit my claims to the precise constructions shown in the draw-- ings, for it is obvious that various modifications in the form, arrangement and proportions of the various parts may be made and in the means for driving same, or other equivalents substituted:

without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is likewise obvious that more than two series of cutting blades may be used in a single machine so that more than a single loaf may be sliced atonetime and I do not limit my claims to either: a single series of blades or to a pair of series of blades, as three series of blades could be used to slice two loaves of bread concurrently or four series to slice three loaves of bread concurrently,

etc. and additional conveyors of the same type could be added for each additional seriesof loaves.

I claim:

1. In a bread slicing machine, a supporting frame, a pair of spaced transverse shafts mounted on the frame, one substantially above the other, each shaft carrying a plurality of thin circular cutting blades and the blades on each shaft overlapping in axially spaced relation and alternating with the blades on the other shaft, and means for revolving the shafts simultaneously in opposite directions the radius of the overlapping portions of said blades being equal to or slightly longer than the height of the loaves of bread to. be sliced thereby, in combination with slotted arms supported by the frame extending transversely from front to rear of the cutting blades at the upper and lower portions of their cutting courses to hold said blades against lateral bending or displacement at the front and rear edges thereof.

2. A mechanism as described in claim 1, said blades being disposed at laterally uniform dis-,

tances apart.

3. In a bread slicing machine and a series of cutting blades movablymounted therein, of a spacing mechanism comprising; slotted spacer arms arranged to straddle the slichaving a frame assessed ingz'blades at the: bottom of theirs cutting: coursesj. 85th:. Off. said arms having; formed integral: there'- withlahone end of the armw. a: head, all the heads; irrtsaidl seriesr being; fixed againsta revolution: and alternate; heads having; internally threaded bores. and; externally threadedx necks. formed thereon,. the intervening heads. of. the seriesebeing; formedwith. internal: transverse bores: in each 1 of: which. isr-mounted a. rotatable interlockingispacing: mem ber having an internally:threadedannular body" fittingy withirr the. head and revolvable therein, eaclr of said bodies. being: formed? with an extere' nalliv threaded neck,.the external-threads oneach neck}: corresponding in pitch. with the internal threads of such body but running inroppos-itez directions thereto and therexternal threads upon therrevolvable necks corresponding inpitch with. the internal threads of the nonrevolvable heads and running in the same direction whereby the threads; upon each neck will mesh and coact'with the: internal threads upon: the revolvable body or the nonrevolvablehead' adjacent to it, peripheral grooves formed in the revolvable= bodies: and pins ole-keys; united to=the heads in which said: bodies are revolvable and extending into said grooves: whereby the. revolvable bodies. are maintained in alinement with the: heads in which they revolve; a.- transverse" shaft extending through. all of; said. heads, bodies-and necks and having a groove in; which the revolvable bodies are'keyed; or-splined', all the parts being so arranged that revolution of; theshaft in one direction will cause theseries of spacing; arms'to contract simultaneously and: uniformly and revolution of the-shaft in the op. posits direction will cause the series of spacing arms to; expand simultaneouslyxand uniformly. andtmeansi to rotate the shaft.

1"..An adjustable spacing mechanism to uniformly adjust the spacing: of a movable-series: of parts; comprising slotted spacer arms; arranged to: embracethe parts to be: spaced; each: of; said arms having: formed integral therewith at one end of'. thearm a head, all heads in saidiseries: being? fiX-ed against revolution and alternate heads having internally threaded: bores and ex terna'llys' threaded necks: formed thereon, the; threads of the bores: and: neclmbeing of coreressponding" pitch but running inoppositedirections, the intervening heads of the series;- being formed with internal transverse: bores in eacirof which is mounted a rotatable interlocking spacing member having an internally; threaded, annular body fitting within the head and freely revolvable therein, each of said bodies being; formed, With'aninternally threaded. bore and an externallythreadedl neck, the external threads.v on. each neck corresponding. in pitch with the internal. threads, of such. bore but. running in. opposite directions, thereto and the. external} threads upon, the revolvabl'e neckscorresponding in pitch with the internal threads of. the 'nonrevol'vable heads and running in the same direction, whereby the threads upon; each nonrevolvable neck'will mesh and coact with the-internal threads upon the adjacent revolvable body and the threads of each revolvable neck will mesh with the internal threads in the nonrevolvable head adjacent to it, peripheral grooves formed in the revolvable bodies and pins or keys united to the heads in which said bodies are revolvabl'e and extending into said grooves whereby the; revolvable bodies are: maintained: irralinement with the heads in which they revolve;. a trans verse. shaft extending: through: all of saidheadsl. bodies and! necks; and: having a: groove: im

the; revolvablez bodies: are keyed or splinedg. all: the parts being so arranged that revolutionof the. shaft. in one; direction: will: cause thea series: of spacingarms to contractsimultaneously and unit-r formly and?relvol'utiorrof. the :shaft inytheioppositei direction: will cause theseries; of spacings arms to; expand simultaneousiyand? uniformly; means -tosrotat'e the shaft;

5. In a bread slicing machine, the combination. with a frames and" a series of:' cutting blades movab-ly mounted therein, of: a spacin mechanism as. described in: clai'm 4 and havingsthel. slotted: spacer arms, arranged to: straddle and'i movelaterallythe. cutting blades.

62 In; a slicing; machine, thescombinationbwith; aframe; ofetwo' spaced apart series of laterally movablecutting: blades, a spacing mechanism as.- described; in; claim: 4 applied to each series of: blades;. and" means. for simultaneously and uniformly actuating both spacing mechanisms;

7. In a. breach slicingma'chine, the combination with a .s-upportinga frame, of; a. pair of? spaced; transverse shafts mounted on the frame, each.

shaft carrying:aplurality ofthin; circular. cutting; blades and. the: blades-i. on each.v shaft alternating? with the. bladesv on. the, other. shaft and over lapping fora space equal-to ora. little more: than; the height" oh a. loaf? to be sliced", means for? re-, volving-j the: shafts simultaneously ire opposite.- dis rections, adjusting means including spaced series. of arms supportedby the: frame and extending transversely from; front to rear of thecutting.- blades at opposite portions: of their: :cutting courses to hold said bladesragainst-g lateralb'ende ing or displacement, and adjusting means; to

uniformly adjust the spacing of the. arms while: the. machineis either at rest' orrin motion,. each. arm: having acentral slot through which its. c0r;-. responding: blade extends, anda central" bore: through which. the corresponding bladeeshaft passes. and in which itf-reely revolves.

8:. In a. bread: slicing machine, a: supporting; frame; a. pair of: parallel. spaced-i transverse shafts mounted on the: framevone spaced. above the: other, each: shaft carrying a pluralityofv thin cire cular cutting: blades in axially spacedrrelati'on, the blades on eachslraft alternating with; the blades of the other shaft and overlapping same: a; distance slightly greater than the: height: of a, loaf of bread; tube-sliced, a pair: of cros'sbars; mounted on the framein front: of the: blades; a plurality of slotted longitudinal arms slidablymounted: upon the crossbars arranged with the slots embracing the bladesrres-pectively; said-slotsbeing of" a Width just; sufficient topermit. free. revolution of the: blades: therein; and. also: to afford support. against lateral. bending at the front.- and rear portions of? the; blades approximately at the first and'lastipoints of; contact of? the blades'with'thebread;

9; A machine as; described: inclaim 8,.incombination with adjusting means to uniformly ad;- just. the lateral spacing of the, blades; while. the, machine is either at rest or in; motion; and: a; conveyor tocarrythe-loaves of breadto-the blades and to present one or both of the pan corners of. the loaves fore first contact. with the cutting blades. Y 1

0. In a bread slicing machine, a supporting frame; a pair of parallel: spaced transverse shafts mounted on: the. frame one spaced above. the othen; each. shaft carrying; a plurality of thin: circular cutting blades in axially spaced relation, theblades on each. shaft alternating: with, the blades of: the othenshaft. and overlapping same a distance slightly greater than the height of a loaf of bread to be sliced, a pair of crossbars mounted on the frame in front of the blades, a plurality of slotted longitudinal arms slidably mounted upon the crossbars arranged with the slots embracing the blades respectively, said slots being of a width just sufficient to permit free revolution of the blades therein and also to afford support against lateral bending at the front of the blades approximately at the first point of contact of the blades with the bread.

HARRY J. CRINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Re. 21,376 240,310 385,234 984,237 1,710,327 1,937,248 1,962,779 2,011,473 2,011,475

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Walma Feb. 27, 1940 Drake Apr. 19, 1881 Bon June 26, 1888 Osburn, Jr Feb. 14, 1911 Walters Aug. 23, 1929 Rohwedder et a1. Nov. 28, 1933 Krum et a1 June 12, 1934 Criner Aug. 13, 1935 Debus Aug. 13, 1935 Criner Mar. 14, 1939 Walma Dec. 7, 1943 

